Feminism In The Scarlet Letter - 955 Words

Throughout the novel The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne displays powerful feminist ideas and behaviors present in many of the novel’s characters especially Hester Prynne. As the personalities and beliefs of the characters in The Scarlet Letter develop, rebellious acts against the traditional ways of Puritanical life unfold. Hawthorne depicts the rebellious nature of Hester, her daughter Pearl, and a few others to demonstrate the severe impacts these individuals have on the oppressing Puritan society, as well as the importance of breaking free from the strict and harsh Puritan lifestyle. Hawthorne reveals his bias mainly through Hester Prynne, the defiant anarchist and main character in the novel. By making Hester society’s antagonist,†¦show more content†¦She had the courage to disregard all of the pointing fingers and zone in on what was important to her†¦ divinity. As the story continues, Hester becomes more introverted. However, her rebellious nature is still fully intact. She, throughout the novel, has the occupation of being a seamstress of intricate, flashy clothing for neighboring puritans. This example helps first establish Hester as a cultural vigilante because traditional Puritans appear to dress in gray, dull clothing throughout the novel and history. In performing her job she is also publicizing an unholy image, which is traditionally forbidden, while still staying true to her womanly values. Her embroidery work can be seen as symbolism because this simple act goes much further than needle and thread. It resembles the things people do that are passageways of self-expression. She does this work in the midst of such a homogenous group of people. The sheep in which we call Puritans. Within the story Hawthorne makes a point of highlighting Hester’s autonomy. The quote, â€Å"[Hester would] supply food for her thriving infant and herself,† (Hawthorne 76) demonstrates her strong will of independence and the lack of reliability on others. Hawthorne shares this with the audience out of necessity. It lets the reader know that Hester is perfectly fit for the task of raising a child such as Pearl and conveys her acceptance of the woman she hasShow MoreRelatedFeminism in the Scarlet Letter1297 Words   |  6 PagesResearch Paper 11 March 2008 Hawthorne’s Hester Prynne and Feminism â€Å"In Heaven’s own time, a new truth would be revealed, in order to establish the whole relation between man and woman on a surer ground of mutual happiness† (ch.24).The definition of feminism would be women are inherently equal to men and deserve equal rights and opportunities. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s, The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne is the key example for feminism in the novel. In Puritan times, women were thought of as lesserRead MoreFeminism In The Scarlet Letter Essay1313 Words   |  6 PagesWhat is the true definition of feminism? 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Chau-Lee English 3H 11/ 13/14 Is The Scarlet Letter A Feminist Novel? A feminist is defined in the British Dictionary as a person who advocates equal rights for women. However incredulous it may sound, women had to fight for rights for equality in things such as politics, economics, and their personal affairs. If the revolutionary feminist concepts were surfacing in the time of Nathaniel Hawthorne, circa 1850, then how was it that he was inspired to write Hester’s character? However